1. What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act?
Shakespeare opens his play with strong momentum and force. In the beginning of the act, the witches set the mood and the tone for the opening of the text. Realistically, the witches are engaging in witchcraft and the witches are planning an act of going to see Macbeth in the play. These witches are the power and heart of the story, which constitutes a focus and concentration on the characterization of the witches.
They enable a tone to set the mood, which implies for one to make an inference on some unfortunate action may occur. At the end of scene one in the first seen, the witches come together to form a final placement in tone. These words are chanted uniformly as, “ Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air” Moreover this couplet spoken by the witches as a foreshadowing moment, where their appearance in scene three fulfills their demeanor. The witches speak of actions proceeding the course of this tragedy, as actions do not appear what they have been thought of.
2. What happened to the original Thane of Cawdor and why did he lose his title?
The status to the original Thane of Cawdor is perhaps a tragic personal demise. Through his actions, he lost his title of nobility and power of Thane. His deceiving actions and cunning character empowered through himself to commit treason.
A character speaks of the Thane of Cawdor as, “From Fife, great King, where the Norweyan banners flout the sky and fan our people cold. Norway himself, with terrible numbers, assisted by the most disloyal traitor, the Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict,….”(Shakespeare 1.2, 50-55). The original Thane of Cawdor is a traitor towards the King. Thus, he loses his title for his lack of allegiance and nobility, as he is executed for his treason.
For this reason, Macbeth is recognized as a brave hero, and his ambition leads him to take over the new title as Thane of Cawdor.
3. How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle? Why?
The witches greet Macbeth after the battle. They approach him in such a manner that they are hailing him for his achievements. However, Macbeth and his superiority perceive the witches in a literal connotation. The witches proclaim, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (Shakespeare 1.3, 49-51).
The witch’s lines do foreshadow the events for Macbeth, because the prophecy will be fulfilled and he will be King. However, the lines of the witches are more of a figurative nature. The witches create these undefined lines where Macbeth is not able to figure out the purposes of the witches. Here from the start, the witches taunt Macbeth with their prophecies to intercede his mentality.
4. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" scene?
The significance of Lady Macbeth’s “unsex me” scene is quite contrary to her character. Lady Macbeth proclaims, “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thought, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the to top-full of direst cruelty!” (Shakespeare 1.5, 40-43). Lady Macbeth is uncomfortable with her femininity. Her line, “The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements” (Shakespeare 1.5, 39-40). She desires to obtain masculine traits. Even though she is not a male being, the only way she is allotted power is through a man, which is her husband.
This motive contracts greatness for her character and persistency to allow her husband obtain higher power. She explains, “And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers wherever in your sightless substances you wait on natures mischief!” (Shakespeare 1.5, 48-50). If he contains these powers, she will encompass these similar ambitions and equal power as her husband. Thus, she is indifferent emotionally when she inquires for her husband to murder Duncan, so the witches’ prophecy will come true. In regard, it appears to one that Lady Macbeth’s ambition appears more superior to her maternal nature.
Allison
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